WSLC Legislative Update: A Tale of Two Chambers

Following is today’s edition of the WSLC Legislative Update newsletter (PDF version):

OLYMPIA (Mar. 5, 2013) — The Democratic-controlled House and the Republican-controlled Senate are making both political parties’ priorities and values very clear. With few exceptions, the labor-related bills that remain alive in the House set out to promote strong families, to secure our middle class, and to reward hard work. But in the Senate — where a narrow majority was handed to Republicans not by voters but by political brinksmanship — the bills that survive tend to put profits before people and rig the system for powerful corporate interests.

After last Friday’s deadline for bills to pass committees, now is the time that individual legislators will begin going on record and making their priorities and values clear. This edition of the WSLC Legislative Update is a summary of some working families bills still alive that have until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13 to pass floor votes in their houses of origin.

Floor votes needed in the House

The following labor-supported bills (listed in numeric order) are among those for which the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO urges floor votes as soon as possible:

HB 1267 (Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon) — Extending the time period for voter registration. Passed Government Operations, now in Rules. Companion SB 5268 (Billig) died without a hearing or vote in Senate Government Operations.

HB 1313 (Rep. Laurie Jinkins) — Establishing minimum standards for sick and safe leave. Passed both Labor and Appropriations, now in Rules. Companion SB 5594 (Harper) died without a vote in Senate Labor.

HB 1348 (Rep. Chris Reykdal) — The “Step Up for Faculty” bill creating a framework to fund step increases for community and technical college faculty. Passed both Labor and Appropriations, now in Rules. Companion bill SB 5350 (Kohl-Welles) died without a hearing or vote in Senate Labor.

HB 1440 (Rep. John McCoy) — Underground economy legislation addressing wage theft and employee misclassification by cracking down on businesses that cheat workers — and state and local governments — out of the money they are owed. Passed Labor and Finance, now in Rules. Companion SB 5526 (Conway) died without a hearing or vote in Senate Labor.

HB 1536 (Rep. Larry Seaquist) — Guaranteeing one labor member on community college boards. Passed Higher Education, now in Rules. Companion SB 5567 (Chase) died without a hearing or vote in Senate Higher Education.

SB 5158 (Sen. John Braun) — Creating a “good-faith” defense for employers that fail to pay minimum or overtime wages. Passed Labor, now in Rules. Companion HB 1462 (Manweller) died after being heard in House Labor.

SB 5159 (Sen. John Braun) — Repealing the Family and Medical Leave Act.Passed Labor, now in Rules. Companion HB 1462 (Manweller) died after being heard in House Labor.

SB 5275 (Sen. Janéa Holmquist Newbry) — Creating a sub-minimum wage for new employees. Although dubbed a “training wage,” the sub-minimum wage could apply to any new employee, experienced or not. Passed Labor, now in Rules. Companion HB 1150 (Condotta) died in House Labor.

SB 5717 (Sen. Michael Baumgartner) — Blocking state employees from competing to keep their jobs by exempting the state Dept. of Enterprise Services from the state’s competitive contracting rules. Passed Government Operations & Ways and Means, now in Rules.

SB 5726 & 5728 (Sen. John Braun) — Killing Seattle’s paid sick days ordinance and blocking any other city from adopting one. Passed Labor, now in Rules.

SB 5851 (Sen. Barbara Bailey) — Sen. Rodney Tom’s surprise pension-killing bill (SB 5856) failed to pass Ways & Means Committee before the deadline, but SB 5851 would create a 401(k)-type savings plan to replace the defined-benefit pensions for new state employees. This change would not only harm the interests of new employees, it would also undermine the stability of the existing pension system for current employees and retirees. Passed Ways & Means, now in Rules.

Legislative Reception/Conference THIS WEEK

Leaders, staffers and rank-and-file members of WSLC-affiliated unions are invited to attend this week’s Washington State Labor Council Legislative Reception and Conference at the Olympia Red Lion Hotel. The reception on Wednesday night, March 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. is a great opportunity to talk informally with legislators, state officials and other trade unionists. The conference begins at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 7, where participants will hear from union lobbyists about the status of labor’s agenda and from legislative leaders about the prospects for passing bills and budgets that invest in Washington state, create good jobs and protect our families.

If you haven’t pre-registered, you can register at the door. The fee for both events is $75 per person, which includes two drinks and hors d’oeuvres at the reception and lunch and materials at the conference. To avoid the lines for the reception and conference, early registration is available in the hotel lobby beginning at 2 p.m. on Wednesday. Registration tables for the conference will open at 7:30 a.m. Thursday.

Short URL: http://www.thestand.org/?p=21360

Posted by David Groves
on Mar 5 2013. Filed under STATE GOVERNMENT.
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